2002 Ford Mondeo 2.0L Petrol · OV52 BOF

A 2002 Ford Mondeo now standing at 100,223 miles presents a mixed and somewhat opaque roadworthiness picture, primarily because the most recent DVSA encounter was a failure on 10 March 2026 with no defects recorded against the test entry. This typically means the vehicle was refused a certificate for administrative or categorisation reasons, or the testing station did not enter the failure reasons digitally, leaving the buyer with no direct insight into why the car did not pass. The supporting trend shows a pass on 28 October 2024 sandwiched around another unrecorded failure five days earlier on 23 October 2024, with clean passes in September 2023 and January 2023. A 24 year old car with no advisories or defect details on file is unusual, but without the underlying reasons for the 2024 and 2026 refusals, the mechanical narrative remains incomplete and any prospective purchase must treat the absent defect data as a risk factor in its own right. The recorded annual mileage of roughly 4,176 miles is notably low for a vehicle of this age and almost certainly reflects significant periods of inactivity or very limited use. Such low accumulation over more than two decades typically means the car has either been a second vehicle, used only for short urban trips, or has spent extended periods off the road, which can accelerate deterioration of rubber seals, brake calipers, suspension bushes, and fuel system components through lack of regular exercise. There are no large gaps between tests that suggest long-term SORN status, but the testing cadence implies the vehicle has been kept on the road largely to preserve its road legal status rather than as a daily driver. Mechanically, this usage profile raises the probability of seized or binding brake calipers, perished coolant hoses, oxidised fuel, and dried out transmission fluid, all of which can fail suddenly once the car is pressed into regular service. Given the absence of recorded advisories and the unexplained nature of the recent failures, a physical inspection must take priority over any assumption that the car is mechanically sound. On a test drive, listen carefully for clonks or knocking from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, which would indicate worn wishbone bushes, drop links, or anti-roll bar mountings, all common weak points on a Mondeo of this era. Check that the steering returns smoothly to centre without juddering or pulling, and feel for vibration through the brake pedal under firm application, as a binding caliper or warped front discs often develops after long periods of light use. Inspect the underside closely for any oil misting around the cam cover or sump, and examine the brake pipes, fuel lines, and subframe mounting points for surface corrosion, since a 24 year old car is at the stage where structural corrosion advisories become a serious concern even if none have yet been recorded. Before committing to purchase, obtain the full DVSA failure sheets from both 2024 and 2026 tests directly from the testing station or via a detailed history report, as the omission of defect data is itself a warning sign that warrants clarification. Have the vehicle inspected on a ramp by an independent garage, paying particular attention to the rear trailing arm bushes, front lower wishbone rear bushes, and exhaust mounting rubbers, all of which are known failure items on this generation of Mondeo. Verify that the braking system releases cleanly when warm and that the handbrake holds without excessive travel, as caliper sliders that have corroded during low mileage periods frequently present as one-sided pull. Finally, confirm the timing belt replacement interval, as a 24 year old vehicle will almost certainly be due for one regardless of recorded mileage, and check the cooling system header tank and radiator end caps for the plastic degradation typical of this model.